Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOS and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.
2010-2015:
5
states detected
19
utilities detected
370,000
people served
5
states over health guideline
19
utilities over health guideline
370,000
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for perfluorobutane sulfonate
Cancer
Harm to the immune system
Hormone disruption
Harm to fetal growth and child development
Harm to the liver
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 1 ppt
The health guideline of 1 ppt for perfluorobutane sulfonate was defined by EWG based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFCs most widely detected in drinking water. This health guideline applies to the entire class of PFCs detected in water.
ppt = parts per trillion.
States reporting perfluorobutane sulfonate in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Georgia | 7 | 202,596 | 7 | 202,596 | |||
| Alabama | 9 | 89,724 | 9 | 89,724 | |||
| Minnesota | 1 | 33,930 | 1 | 33,930 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 25,000 | 1 | 25,000 | |||
| Colorado | 1 | 19,000 | 1 | 19,000 | |||
Utilities with the highest amounts of perfluorobutane sulfonate, 2010-2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome* | Rome, GA | 4 of 4 | 240.0 ppt | 45,586 |
| Calhoun* | Calhoun, GA | 4 of 8 | 135.0 ppt | 49,088 |
| Rainbow City Utilities Board* | Rainbow City, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 11,748 |
| Cottage Grove* | Cottage Grove, MN | 21 of 109 | 22.3 ppt | 33,930 |
| Security Waster District | Colorado Springs, CO | 4 of 38 | 11.6 ppt | 19,000 |
| Northeast Alabama Water System* | Fort Payne, AL | 2 of 26 | 10.8 ppt | 42,609 |
| Dalton Utilities* | Dalton, GA | 1 of 12 | 10.00 ppt | 99,315 |
| Horsham Water&sewer Authority* | Horsham, PA | 1 of 34 | 3.24 ppt | 25,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome* | Rome, GA | 4 of 4 | 240.0 ppt | 45,586 |
| Calhoun* | Calhoun, GA | 4 of 8 | 135.0 ppt | 49,088 |
| Rainbow City Utilities Board* | Rainbow City, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 11,748 |
| Cottage Grove* | Cottage Grove, MN | 21 of 109 | 22.3 ppt | 33,930 |
| Security Waster District | Colorado Springs, CO | 4 of 38 | 11.6 ppt | 19,000 |
| Northeast Alabama Water System* | Fort Payne, AL | 2 of 26 | 10.8 ppt | 42,609 |
| Dalton Utilities* | Dalton, GA | 1 of 12 | 10.00 ppt | 99,315 |
| Horsham Water&sewer Authority* | Horsham, PA | 1 of 34 | 3.24 ppt | 25,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.